Banska Bystrica - Bańska Bystrzyca

Banska Bystrica
Map
Map slovakia banska bystrica.png
Information
CountrySlovakia
RegionBanská Bystrica Region
Surface103.37 km²
Population78 327
Area code0965
Postal Code974 01, 974 04, 974 05, 974 09, 974 11
website
SNP Square in Bańska Bystrzyca

Banska Bystrica - the city in the middle Slovakia, in the traditional region of Horehronie. Administrative center of Banská Bystrica and Banská Bystrica County.

Characteristic

Banska Bystrica is situated in central Slovakia between the national parks Big Fatra and the Low Tatras (north of the city), the national park Poľana (east of the city) and Štiavnické Vrchy (south-west of the city). Banská Bystrica is the capital of the Banská Bystrica region (country) and the county (period) of the same name. It has approximately 78,000 inhabitants.

Drive

By plane

Banská Bystrica is served by 1 Sliač airport (SLD). The airport is located 15 km from Banska Bystrica, however, there are no regular passenger flights, only charters.

The nearest international airports are Budapest (200 km), Bratislava (205 km) and Vienna (260 km).

If you're flying from Vienna, check the connections well. An afternoon flight from Vienna (around 15:00) probably involves leaving Banska Bystrica by train 06:27 or by bus between 07:00 and 08:00. It is also possible to take the 08:27 train to Bratislava and arrive at Vienna airport for an afternoon flight, but this leaves little time.

Transport to Budapest is relatively complicated without a direct bus or train. In summer 2015. This could not be done with less than 2 transfers (significantly avoiding the shortest route).

By rail

There are rail connections from the main Slovak cities. You can also get to Banska Bystrzyca from Vienna, Budapest, Polish and Czech (Direct train). The city is not well served in the evening. Plan your connections carefully with Bratislavabecause there are no trains between 18:01 and 23:49 (the midnight train arrives at 05:19 and the train stops in Zwoleń at 02:57, with a long wait - until 04:47 - for the local train to Banska Bystrzyca) . Many trains from Bratislava have Wi-Fi.

There are two stations:

  • 2 Main railway station.
  • 3 Banská Bystrica - mesto. A station that is closer to the city center.

By bus

  • 4 Main bus station.

There are bus connections to all major Slovak cities, as well as international routes to Vienna, the Czech Republic and many other cities in Western Europe. Buses from Bratislava cost around € 9.50 (RegioJet buses cost € 5). Since mid-2015, the last bus leaves Bratislava to Banska Bystrica at 20:35, so be careful with connections to Bratislava or Vienna airports.

By car

Banska Bystrica has road connections from all major Slovak cities. Bratislava (210 km) can be reached via the R1 highway. Banska Bystrica also has road connections with: Ružomberok (52 km) road 59 / E77, Martin Road 65 (59 km), Releases (19 km) road R1 / E77. From Zvolen, you can continue on the E77 road further south to the Saha (70 km - Hungarian border) and Budapest (160 km)

Communication

Banska Bystrica is a walkable city, and all major attractions are within a 15-minute walk.

Public transport

Public transport is handy if you are staying outside of the city center or for city tours. It consists of buses and trolleybuses, and one trip costs EUR 0.70 (as of mid-2015). Regional buses from the main bus station (or the neighboring stop "Parkovisko Mičinská") serve the surrounding villages for a slightly higher price. For more information and an up-to-date schedule, please visit this page [1].

Taxis

Due to increased competition (caused by a complete lack of public transport overnight), taxi prices in Banska Bystrica have dropped sharply to a flat rate of around € 3-4 for travel anywhere in the city (out-of-town fares are charged per km). As the city's official area is quite large, a taxi is a really convenient transportation option.

Historical monuments

The fountain in the Main Square
Museum of the Slovak National Uprising
Urpín and the clock tower from 1552

Banská Bystrica has a beautiful location between the mountains. That is why it is a popular summer and winter resort. The heart of the old town is the SNP (Námestie SNP) square, which dates back to the 13th century. Here you will find many Renaissance and jugendstil buildings. These sights include:

  • 1 Town hall, Plac SNP 1 This house belonged to a medieval miner who built this huge house at the market square. It now houses the city's information center and also serves as the mayor's representative purposes.
  • 2 Central Slovakia Museum, Plac SNP 4 Housed in a beautiful, renovated Renaissance house, it has its exhibitions in two other historical buildings in the city.
  • 3 Marian pillar The baroque pole was built in 1719 as a sign of gratitude to the Virgin Mary after the end of the plague.
  • 4 Black obelisk Monument in honor of the soldiers of the Red Army and the Romanian Army.
  • 5 St. Francis Xavier, SNP Square Roman Catholic church in the baroque style, built at the beginning of the 18th century.
  • 6 Clock tower Built around 1552. As part of the town square. The entrance fee to the top is € 2 (children go for free).
  • 7 Barbican, Štefana Moyses Square 26 The main fortification complex and the dominant point with the Petermann bell tower. The hotel has a stylish restaurant.
  • 8 Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Štefana Moyses Square 1 Roman Church built in the 13th century, which was extended in the Gothic period.


Outside the main square:

  • 9 Monument to the Slovak National Uprising, Kapitulská 23 Museum of objects and documents of resistance in World War II. A wide staircase leads to a pious chamber with a symbolic tomb of an unknown soldier, eternal fire and earth from battlefields and burned villages, tables dedicated to the victims of the Holocaust and international involvement in the uprising. The museum is characterized by the architecture of the Soviet era. The full fee is € 2, with various discounts.

It's worth doing

There are two large parks for relaxation close to the city center:

  • 1 At the SNP museum.
  • 2 Tajovského park.
  • 3 Copernicus Science Center. This park in the "center of independent culture" can be closed or used for various events

Cycling

The surroundings of Banska Bystrzyca are ideal for cycling (cross, mountain) sports. You can do many bike tours according to your preferences. The villages around the city are connected by asphalt roads. In the countryside and in the mountains, there are many paved or gravel roads used in the past for forestry, but now mainly used for trekking and cycling. Cycling is not well marked, but the situation is improving as cycling becomes a very popular sport among the locals. For more information, please visit cyclobb.sk There is very useful information on bike tours including length, profile, tips, photos, food options. Unfortunately, the site is only available in Slovak, but it is very intuitive and you can use Google translator. During summer weekends and holidays, cyclists regularly run buses to 3 bike places (Malý Šturec, Harmanecká Jaskyňa, Donovaly).

work

Science

Shopping

  • Europa shopping center, Na Troskách 25. Large shopping center with a wide selection of shops. In conjunction with Europa Business Center (tallest building in the city).
  • Tesco hypermarket
  • Kaufland supermarket.

Gastronomy

  • Healthy eating, Kollarova 18. Vegetarian cafe with Slovak specialties

Cheaply

Moderate

  • Cosmopolitan, Rudohorská 33, ☏ 421 48 417 40 20, ✉ [email protected]. Relatively cheap restaurant with international dishes including pizza, daily menu for 4-5 €. It is a bit out of the city center.
  • Bernardov dvor, Dolná 36, ☏ 421 48 412 49 19, ✉ [email protected]. Nice restaurant near SNP square, offering mainly European cuisine, including steaks and pizza. Also includes a beer bar with homemade beer.
  • Koliba at sv. Krištofa, Uľanská cesta 170, 97411 Banska Bystrica, ☏ 421 48 419 81 51, ✉ [email protected]. Nice traditional restaurant on the E77 road towards Donovaly. Unfortunately only accessible by your own car, but if you are driving around, it is worth visiting. In a traditional atmosphere, you can try the Slovak national meal Halušky (potato dumplings with Bryndza cheese).
  • Plzenská reštaurácia, Námestie SNP 20, ☏ 421 48 415 37 85, ✉ [email protected]. In the city center, this restaurant offers traditional Slovak specialties and homemade beer.

Expensive

  • Frais, Dolná 42, ☏ 421 48 416 30 95, ✉ [email protected]. Centrally located elegant, modern restaurant with excellent cuisine. They also serve delicious coffee and alcoholic drinks.
  • New Angus, Horná 23, ☏ 421 48 416 30 90, ✉ [email protected]. Excellent restaurant near SNP square with different types of food as well as à la carte dishes and cocktails. In summer there is a covered terrace

Drinking

In the town's central square, several small bars serve beer, other drinks and dishes.

  • Capitol pub, Kapitulská 10, ☏ 421 48 415 26 71. This is the edge of SNP square and it is a good place to meet. Daily menu, several types of beer and other alcoholic drinks are available.
  • Bamboo cocktail bar, Dolná 52, ☏ 421 48 470 07 02. Stylish cocktail and cafe next to SNP square with a wide selection of drinks. They also serve beer and some dishes.
  • Čajovnička, Horná 65, ☏ 421 94 414 14 19. A very nice and quiet teahouse near the city center with several kinds of tea. Coffee and shisha are also available.

Parties

Accommodation

Cheaply

Moderate

  • Penzion Bella, Sládkovičova 9, 97405 Banská Bystrica, 421 903 808 960, ✉ [email protected]. Situated in a residential area, 10-15 minutes walk from the center. Clean and friendly staff. The typical price in 2015 was € 40 for a double room.
  • Penzion H44, Horná 44, 97401 Banská Bystrica, ☏ 421 948 948 494, ✉ [email protected]. A decent and very centrally located guesthouse. It costs € 42 for a double room € 4 / pp for breakfast.
  • Hotel LUX, Námestie Slobody 2, 97401 Banska Bystrica, 421 48 414 41 41, ✉ [email protected]. The most famous hotel in Banska Bystrica has become a symbol of the city since its construction in 1970, and even today it is a significant reminder of the architecture of the communist era (though it has been partially rebuilt). It costs around € 50 for a double room (breakfast included).

Expensive

  • Hotel Dixon, Švermova 32, 97404 Banská Bystrica, 421 48 471 78 00, ✉ [email protected]. The 4 * Hotel Dixon is located in a quiet area of ​​the city, near the open-air swimming pool and the sports relaxation zone, surrounded by pleasant greenery. Double room costs up to 90 € (breakfast included).
  • Kaskady - Hotel & Spa Resort, Letecká 19, 96231 Sliac, 4 421 45 530 00 00, ✉ [email protected]. A wellness center, spa and restaurant are located just off the R1 highway between Banska Bystrica and Zwolen. Basic double room costs € 90 (presidential suite costs € 300 per night).

contact

Security

Tourist information

Nearest neighborhood

  • Urpín. A mountain on the left bank of the Hron River, above the old town. The most popular trail "Serpentine Urpin" is a moderately demanding, 3.6 km long trail with a total height of 173 m (peak at 510 m). Walking time can be from 1 to 2 hours (more time with children). On the top of Urpin there is a chapel and an astronomical observatory ("Vartovka").
  • Harmanecká cave, Dolný Harmenec 976 03. The cave is one of the most important caves in Slovakia due to the unusual origin of the cave spaces, powerful decay domes and the number of wintering bats. It is located 15 km north of the city on the E77 and 65/14 (towards Martin). You can take the regional bus no. 601454 to the stop "Horný Harmanec - Jaskyňa". From the bus stop it is a 1.5km uphill hike (260m above sea level) to the entrance. The full fare is € 6 and there are discounts for children, students and seniors. Be sure to bring warm clothes even in summer as the average temperature of a one-hour cave tour is around 5-7 ° C.
  • Špania Dolina. A sleepy mountain village 728 m above sea level, on the border of the Low Tatras and Veľká Fatra. Once famous throughout Europe for its rich copper ore deposits, today it is a place of natural mountain beauty. It is 15 km north of the city, initially taking the E77 and then turning into a bumpy, hilly road. It can be reached by the rare regional bus number 601468.
  • Hronsek. The village is situated on the left bank of the Hron River, 10 km south of Banska Bystrzyca. Its main attraction is a wooden articulated church (UNESCO World Heritage). Hronsek can be reached by car from the main R1 highway in the direction of Zvolen or by regional bus no. 601455.
  • Suchý vrch. A hill that forms the south-western border of the city, lying on the edge of the Kremnickie Mountains. Thanks to its numerous easy and moderate trails, it is an ideal option for a full-day trip. Despite some facilities upstairs (restaurant, horseback riding), forest trails do not provide any amenities, so bring your own supplies. The best way to get there is from the neighboring villages of Tajov, Králiky and Malachov or from the Fončorda district (stop of the trolleybus "Nad Tulskou").

Where next

This website uses content from the website: Banska Bystrica published on Wikitravel; authors: w editing history; Copyright: under license CC-BY-SA 1.0


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